Parachute



June l 1926. n 1,586,561

l O. D. LUCAS PARAGHUTE original Filed nay 5. 192s 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented June l, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OWEN DAVID LUCAS, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND, ASBIGNOR TO VICKEBB LIMITED, F WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND, A BRITISH COMPANY.v

PARACHUTE.

Original application illed Hay 5, 1923, Serial No. 636,790. Now Patent No. 1,519,857, dated December 16, 1924. Divided and this application filed Dctober 8, 1924. Serial No. 742,840.

This invention relates to parachutes, particularly such as are intended for pyrotechnic purposes where light or smoke signals or flares are to be shown in the air.

I The invention is however also applicable to life-saving parachutes carried by air craft, When parachutes are dropped they quickly attain a high velocity of descent such that the resistance offered by the parachute when it opens becomes so great as to sometimes break the fabric of which it is composed and the chief object of the present invention is to obviate this disadvantage.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described more fully with reference-to .the accompanying drawing in which Figure. 1 is a side view showing` a parachute, constructed according to this invention, in its normal sustaining condition and Figure 2 is a view ofthe lower part of Figure 1 showing a device by which the parachutist can vary the sustaining effect of the parachute.

A is an endless fabric band having a depth, in the example shown. of about one third the diameter of this band when opened to form a cylinder. The lower or outer edge of this band is connected by a number of cords al, al to a ring` A1 and the upper or inner edge of this band is connected by a number of cords a2, a2 to cords a2, a2* passing through the ring A1.

The cords a2", a2* pass over pulleys a6, a connected to the load As and the ends of these cords are connected to the rin A1. Thus a portion. of the load is utilize for resisting the upward movement of the inner edge of the parachute. Stops a7, as carried by the cords a2", a2* are adapted to cooperate with the pulleys a", a to limit the upward and downward movements of these cords. A4L is a hand line which passes over a pulley as* on the ring A and is connected at its ends to a stop a?, for enabling the parachutist to draw the inner edge ofthe fabric A downwards below the position it would occupy under the action of the load A and thus increase the sustaining effect when it is required to clear -an 'obstruction in landing. l

What' I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a parachute. the combination of a fabric in the form of an endless band, cords leading` from the upper and lower edges of said band to the load and pulleys connected to V'said load over which pulleys said cords ass.

p 2. In a life-saving parachute, the combination with the elements claimed in claim l, of means for enabling the parachutist to alter the position of the upper edge of the fabric as desired during the descent of the parachute.

` OWEN DAVID LUCAS. 

